Why Kenyans turn to herbalists
A sample of herbal medicine produced by Neem, a local firm that specialises in mass production of herbal medicine. PHOTO/ FILE
What you need to know:
- Modern healthcare services elusive for the ordinary citizens due to high costs
The high cost of modern healthcare services is seeing more than 85 per cent of rural people and urban poor to seek alternative medicine. practitioners, the Nation has learnt.
National Traditional Health Practitioners Association national chairperson Lydia Matoke said health services had become elusive for ordinary Kenyans.
“How many people can afford private or public hospitals’ charges?” she asked. “The majority are ‘detained’ due to unpaid bills.”
Celebrating African Traditional Medicine Day at the Mombasa Municipal Stadium on Wednesday, Ms Matoke called on the government to come up with policy guidelines and laws to regulate alternative medicine practitioners.
“As it is now everybody at bus stages, street corners or slum areas is practising with impunity,” she said.
To control this, Ms Matoke called for the registration of herbalists, diviners, bone-setters and traditional surgeons for easier monitoring of their activities.
“Any healer found flouting these guidelines should be arraigned in court and charged,” she said.
Earlier in the day, the healers, choreographed by traditional dancers, conducted a procession from Makadara grounds to the stadium to create awareness about their services.
Classic Herbal Producers director Hamisi Mwakumanya said through the use of aloe vera soap people could deal with various skin diseases caused by HIV and Aids.
“We have herbs to effectively cure any skin ailment without side effects,” he said.
Dr Bi-Hola Mwakisua of Herbal Clinic said cases of men with “weak erection” were on the rise, adding that modern drugs were not the answer.
Performance
“Africans had their own ways of dealing with this and we have herbs that can improve performance for the weak ones,” he said.
Kenya Coconut Development Authority extension officer Baha Nguma said lauric acid found in coconuts could fight microbes on the skin and in the digestive tract.
“Coconut oil combats skin conditions such as rashes, eczema and acne, besides being a stronger solution for athlete’s foot problems,” he added.
